On December 17, 2024, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed a gathering of female supporters, urging vigilance against perceived soft tactics employed by enemies of the Islamic Republic. Khamenei emphasized the need for women to defend their values and criticized Western notions of women's freedom, labeling them as exploitation. He reiterated that the principles of hijab and modesty are crucial in Islam, asserting that women and men are complementary in their roles.
In a separate development, Khamenei commented on regional dynamics, specifically regarding Israel's actions in Syria, claiming that Israel is mistaken if it believes it can eliminate Hezbollah forces through military means. He stated that the resistance movement is far from being defeated.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has been implicated in the assassination of Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ radiation, chemical, and biological protection troops, who was killed by an improvised explosive device on December 17. The SBU reportedly considers Kirillov responsible for the use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces. This incident has raised discussions about the nature of the act, with some experts categorizing it as a diversion rather than a terrorist act.
Additionally, Kirillov's assassination is part of a broader pattern of targeted killings involving Russian military personnel accused of war crimes, with several similar incidents reported in recent months. The SBU has not officially claimed responsibility for Kirillov's death but has been linked to other high-profile assassinations of Russian military figures.